Save the Redwoods League
78% goes to programs $11 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
Save the Redwoods League is a 501(c)(3) organization based in San Francisco, California, registered in 1921, with $68,106,119 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 78% of spending to programs.
220 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104 EIN 94-0843915 Since 1921
Revenue (FY2024)
$68.1M
▲ 17.9% vs prior year
Environment median: $250K
Expenses (FY2024)
$50.6M
Net assets
$199.2M
Employees
73
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
B+Program efficiency40% of the rating78% to programs · $11 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Save the Redwoods League: 78% to programs · $11 to raise $100 earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating47 mo reserves · +26% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Save the Redwoods League: 47 mo reserves · +26% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Save the Redwoods League: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Save the Redwoods League: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Show this grade on your website
A live seal — it updates automatically when the grade changes and links donors to this verified profile.
Mission
The league protects and restores redwood forests and connects people with these natural wonders.
What they do
Forest restoration - save the redwoods league revitalizes redwood ecosystems throughout california, leveraging scientific expertise to ensure these forests thrive into the future. redwoods rising, our partnership with california state parks and the national park service, is restoring 70,000 acres of previously logged forest within redwood national and state parks. in 2024, working with our redwood rising partners, we completed 871 acres of forestry treatments to create space for young trees and improve fire resiliency, removed 7 miles of old logging roads, and brought over a mile of streams back to life. on california's north coast, our restoration work has generated $31 million in economic output in del norte and humboldt counties in 2024 alone. in the sierra nevada, through our partnership in the giant sequoia lands coalition, we restored fire-damaged sequoia ecosystems, planting 8,500 seedlings at alder creek and packsaddle groves. we also continued efforts to boost the resilience of these groves against future wildfires through strategic vegetation thinning.additionally, our redwoods rising apprentice program continued in 2024, providing forestry experience and professional skills-building to local college students. for the first time, we also began a giant sequoia apprenticeship program in the sierra nevada, recruiting college students from the nearby san joaquin valley.
Community engagement - the league partners with community groups to make redwood park visits possible in ways that reflect each community's needs. in 2024, our redwood rides program provided free transportation for 415 under-resourced youth, and 17 redwood connect grants supported activities such as canoeing, hiking, stewardship projects, and banana slug-spotting. these community-driven efforts ensure that the redwoods are welcoming and accessible to all. we also launched season 4 of our podcast, i'll go if you go, which features voices from across the redwood - ecosystem from firefighters to community organizers - highlighting diverse, community-rooted paths in forest stewardship. finally, we continued work with the yurok tribe and other local partners at the 'o rew redwoods gateway, which will serve as the southern entrance to redwood national and state parks. with interpretive exhibits, new trails, and a link to the california coastal trail, this gateway invites visitors to experience the redwoods through a lens of indigenous heritage and cultural resilience.
Contact & location
- Address
- 220 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104
- City
- San Francisco
- State
- California
- Category
- Environment
- Subcategory
- Natural Resources Conservation
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $10.4M (FY2013) to $68.1M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $9.3MNet assets $199.2M
Operating margin
25.7%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$208.5M
Total liabilities
$9.3M
Net assets
$199.2M
Salaries & benefits
$10.8M
21% of expenses
Board members
13
13 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $68,106,119▲17.9% | $50,621,038▼8.2% | $199,235,777▲3.9% | $208,506,083▼1.4% | 990 |
| 2023 | $57,790,054▲49.0% | $55,160,311▲67.8% | $191,691,181▲5.3% | $211,369,346▲6.0% | 990 |
| 2022 | $38,773,632▼29.7% | $32,863,391▼0.5% | $182,033,886▲0.5% | $199,486,004▼0.4% | 990 |
| 2021 | $55,128,090▲18.6% | $33,025,358▼10.4% | $181,209,517▲12.5% | $200,210,693▲19.1% | 990 |
| 2020 | $46,465,171▲11.8% | $36,865,445▲49.7% | $161,047,740▲16.8% | $168,044,559▲16.4% | 990 |
| 2019 | $41,553,584▲40.3% | $24,632,771▲37.2% | $137,877,970▲2.3% | $144,344,166▲4.9% | 990 |
| 2018 | $29,612,755▼30.7% | $17,956,122▼50.8% | $134,779,538▲8.0% | $137,646,181▲8.1% | 990 |
| 2017 | $42,747,911▲130% | $36,491,527▲180% | $124,743,489▲3.2% | $127,295,103▲2.9% | 990 |
| 2016 | $18,556,918▲10.1% | $13,028,422▼1.1% | $120,845,997▲10.6% | $123,748,414▲12.2% | 990 |
| 2015 | $16,858,583▼56.2% | $13,168,964▼58.4% | $109,306,015▼2.3% | $110,302,862▼7.9% | 990 |
| 2014 | $38,507,241▲269% | $31,646,232▲271% | $111,908,750▲5.0% | $119,700,044▲0.7% | 990 |
| 2013 | $10,432,087 | $8,529,776▼35.7% | $106,604,318▲8.8% | $118,817,502▲6.9% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $13,272,228▲7.7% | $97,968,441▲7.6% | $111,143,390▲14.7% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $12,325,797▲43.5% | $91,090,917▲2.3% | $96,904,505▲1.9% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $8,590,067 | $89,021,744 | $95,107,576 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Samuel M Hodder — $343,539 (0.68% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel M Hodder | President/ceo | 40 | $343,539 |
| Paul C Ringgold | Chief Program Officer | 40 | $271,863 |
| Tim M Whalen | Chief Development Officer | 40 | $271,863 |
| Jeffrey Charles Hoelsken | General Counsel / Asst Sec | 40 | $242,869 |
| Linneth Lim | Chief Financial Officer | 40 | $241,491 |
| Joanna L Nelson | Dir of Sci/conser Plan(thru 11/7/24) | 40 | $185,345 |
| Jessica L Carter | Dir of Parks & Public Engagement | 40 | $182,554 |
| Suzanne L Moss | Dir of Public/inst Funding | 40 | $180,631 |
| Kirsten S Tobey | Chief Operating Officer | 40 | $155,326 |
| Abraham Tarapani | Vice Chair, Director | 3 | — |
| Andrea Tuttle | Director | 3 | — |
| Carl Shapiro | Director | 3 | — |
| Colby Hastings | Director | 3 | — |
| Dave Mahler | Director | 3 | — |
| John Montague | Secretary, Director | 3 | — |
| John Scharffenberger | Director | 3 | — |
| Matthew K Berler | Director | 3 | — |
| Michael F Wyatt | Treasurer, Director | 3 | — |
| Peggy Light | Director | 3 | — |
| Rosemary Cameron | Vice Chair, Director | 3 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| K2d Strategies | Fundraising Consulting | $466,893 |
| Kernen Construction | Road Improvements | $368,333 |
| Shute Mihaly & Weinberger LLC | Legal Services | $259,685 |
| Hawk J Rosales | Tribal Consultation | $175,016 |
| Timber Liquor License LLC | Catering Services | $170,752 |
Grants received · $33.1M total
170 grants to Save the Redwoods League totaling $33.1M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation | Environment | 2024 | $167,488 |
| Impactassets Inc | General support | 2024 | $153,850 |
| T Rowe Price Program For Charitable Giving Inc | Multiple | 2024 | $104,800 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $102,665 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $90,000 |
| Dechomai Foundation Inc | Unrestricted | 2024 | $74,980 |
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Environment & animal protection | 2024 | $50,300 |
| Resources Legacy Fund | Land or marine conservation, climate change, and/or environmental equity and justice | 2024 | $50,000 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Environmental | 2024 | $35,250 |
| The Us Charitable Gift Trust | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2024 | $28,471 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $20,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $14,342 |
| Greater Horizons | Environment & animals | 2024 | $11,500 |
| New Hampshire Charitable Foundation | For unrestricted support | 2024 | $9,000 |
| Daffy Charitable Fund | General support of mission | 2024 | $5,113 |
Grants made · $3.8M in FY2024
36 grants totaling $3.8M in FY2024 — showing the 15 largest. All grants made by Save the Redwoods League →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Bureau of Land Management Foundation | Stewardship grants | $2,000,000 |
| Yurok Tribe Fisheries Department | Restoration grants | $566,683 |
| Intertribal Sinkyone Wilderness | Stewardship grants | $279,855 |
| Regents of the University of California At Berkeley | Climate change grants | $272,675 |
| University of California Davis | Research grants | $85,848 |
| Bureau of Land Management | Stewardship grants | $80,000 |
| California Department of Parks and Recreation | Park project grants | $76,000 |
| Colorado State University | Research grants | $65,553 |
| Board of Regents Nevada System of Higher Education | Climate change grants | $56,437 |
| Trustees of Amherst College | Research grants | $50,000 |
| Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation | Research grants | $50,000 |
| Northern Arizona University | Research grants | $49,314 |
| Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation | Research grants | $20,933 |
| Humboldt County Office of Education | Education grants | $15,602 |
| Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy | Education grants | $11,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Save the Redwoods League a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Save the Redwoods League is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 94-0843915, based in San Francisco, California. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Save the Redwoods League's EIN?
- Save the Redwoods League's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 94-0843915.
- How much revenue does Save the Redwoods League report?
- Save the Redwoods League reported $68,106,119 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Save the Redwoods League's spending goes to programs?
- Save the Redwoods League spends about 78% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Save the Redwoods League have?
- CharityIndex grades Save the Redwoods League A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Save the Redwoods League's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Save the Redwoods League's latest Form 990 is $343,539, paid to Samuel M Hodder (President/ceo).
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Data for Save the Redwoods League (EIN 94-0843915) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.